Patrick B

Level Designer

Bio

Blank's 60-year odyssey with the sea, much of it on his famous boat the Calypso, was more than a great adventure. He co-invented the aqualung, developed a one-person, jet-propelled submarine and helped start the first manned undersea colonies.

Length of time I have been employed in the industry

About 5 years now. Most of that time has been here at Gearbox.

Game companies I have worked for

Before coming to Gearbox Software, I had a short stay at a company called Running With Scissors.

Titles I have worked on

Borderlands
Brothers in Arms: Earned in Blood
Brothers in Arms: Road to Hill 30
Postal 2: Apocalypse Weekend

Advice

Resources I would recommend for those interested in getting into game development (books, tutorials, sites, etc)

Speaking for level design, now days you can pretty much teach yourself everything you need to know technical wise from multiple online resources. There are websites dedicated to paticular games and editing them with thousands of tuturals to teach you everything you know. I would highly recommend getting involved in the modding community. Working with others as a team to accomplish the same goal and learning how to give and take feedback is invaluable.

Favorites

First game I remember playing

Pitfall for the Atari 2600. I loved that game.

All-time favorite game

I think I would have to say Half Life. What a fantastic way to open a game. Half Life showed me how much more a game could. It was the first real game I played that had atmosphere. Diablo II runs a close 2nd.

Non-video gaming hobbies

There is more to life than video games?

Favorite bands/music

Everything from ambient, to Hendrix, to Tool. Just no rap or country please...

Favorite books/authors

Papillon, Skeletons on the Zahara, Cool Hand Luke, I Am Legend, and many more...

Favorite TV shows

The Shield, anything on Discovery, or Nova.

Favorite movies

Narc, The Thin Red Line, 300, Cool Hand Luke, Thunderbolt and Lightfoot, Predator, Alien, Aliens, Caddyshack, Blazing Saddles, too many to list...

Favorite quote

"Thats what she said."